On the magical Saturday night of Feb. 21 Planned Parenthood Keystone’s Rainbow Room will transform the glass ballroom of the Michener Art Museum into something extraordinary for Castles in the Sky: A Queer Prom on Cloud Nine. Now in its fourth celebration, this free event has become a beloved rite of passage for LGBTQ+ youth and their friends across our region.
Each time the Rainbow Room opens the doors, the prom sells out, drawing more than 150 students from over 70 schools. Many young people describe it as the best night of their lives, and we hold that truth with deep care and responsibility.
At a time when attacks on queer youth are escalating and too many young people are being targeted simply for being who they are, Queer Prom stands as a joyful counterpoint to the cruelty shaping our cultural moment. It is a space intentionally created for belonging, safety, and delight. The Rainbow Room’s Queer Prom Committee has helped design every component of the event, and this week we had a blast crafting decorations alongside Michener Museum staff.
At Queer Prom, dozens upon dozens of youth show up exactly as themselves, dressed in ways that reflect their identities, dancing freely, making new friends, and experiencing the kind of celebration every young person deserves. Local bakers are donating decadent cloud-themed cupcakes, Jules Pizza is providing food, Evolution Candy will spin cotton candy, a local florist is donating arrangements for every table, and the evening will also feature face painting, a DJ, a photo booth, tarot readers, a relaxation room away from the noise, flower crown making, and an outdoor fire pit in the museum’s sculpture garden. Youth do not need to bring money for anything, but must be pre-registered and included on a carefully managed admittance list to ensure everyone’s safety.
Prom is a cultural milestone, but for many LGBTQ+ youth, traditional proms can feel exclusionary or even unsafe. Queer Prom reimagines that tradition in a way that is both uniquely queer and beautifully universal. No one is expected to bring a date. There is no single way to show up. The only requirement is authenticity.
The care surrounding this event is immense. We maintain thoughtful, professional security so that youth and families can focus on joy rather than worry. Each year, we are moved by the overwhelming number of teachers, parents, and community members who ask to serve as chaperones; the list fills so quickly that we again find ourselves turning away generous volunteers eager to help safeguard this special night.
Queer Prom is already more than half sold out, and we encourage interested youth to claim their tickets soon. In a moment when the world can feel increasingly hostile for many young people, this night offers something powerful: not just a dance, but a declaration — that queer youth deserve joy, celebration, and spaces where they are not merely accepted, but honored.
Youth can apply for tickets here: http://tinyurl.com/RRQP26
